أَلا لا تَلُمني في العُقارِ جَليسي

أَلا لا تَلُمني في العُقارِ جَليسي

وَلا تَلحَني في شُربِها بِعُبوسِ

وَلا تَلحَني في شُربِها بِعُبوسِ

Ah, do not blame me for wine, my companion,

Don't blame me for my companion in wine,

Do not blame me for the vintage, O my table-companion,

Nor reproach me for drinking it with a scowl.

Nor frown at me for drinking it.

Nor scold me for quaffing it with a furrowed brow.

لَقَد بَسَطَ الرَحمَنُ مِنّي مَوَدَّةً

لَقَد بَسَطَ الرَحمَنُ مِنّي مَوَدَّةً

إِلَيها وَمِن قَومٍ لَدَيَّ جُلوسِ

إِلَيها وَمِن قَومٍ لَدَيَّ جُلوسِ

Indeed, the All-Merciful has extended my affection

The Merciful has granted me affection

For the Merciful has cast a love for her within me,

Toward it, and that of the company seated beside me.

Towards it, and towards friends seated with me.

And for the boon companions seated by my side.

تَعَشَّقَها قَلبي فَبَغَّضَ عِشقُها

تَعَشَّقَها قَلبي فَبَغَّضَ عِشقُها

إِلَيَّ مِنَ الأَموالِ كُلَّ نَفيسِ

إِلَيَّ مِنَ الأَموالِ كُلَّ نَفيسِ

My heart fell in love with it, and love of it made hateful

My heart fell in love with it, so its love

My heart adored her, and her passion made me loathe

To me every precious possession.

Became dearer to me than all precious things.

Every precious object of wealth that I possess.

جُنُنتُ عَلى عَذراءَ غَيرِ قَوِيَّةٍ

جُنُنتُ عَلى عَذراءَ غَيرِ قَوِيَّةٍ

شَديدَةِ بَطشٍ في الزُجاجِ شَموسِ

شَديدَةِ بَطشٍ في الزُجاجِ شَموسِ

I went mad for a maiden of little strength,

I became mad for a girl not strong,

I am maddened by a virgin maid of no physical might,

Fierce in her assault, unruly in the glass.

Whose wine is fiercely bright in crystal.

Yet fierce in her assault within the glass, spirited and wild.

تَرى كَأسَها عِندَ المِزاجِ كَأَنَّها

تَرى كَأسَها عِندَ المِزاجِ كَأَنَّها

نَثَرتَ عَلَيها حَليَ رَأسٍ عَروسِ

نَثَرتَ عَلَيها حَليَ رَأسٍ عَروسِ

You see her cup when the wine is mixed, as though

You see her cup at the blending

You see her cup, when tempered with the stream, look as though

You had scattered upon it the jewels from a bride's head.

As if she had scattered on it a bride's jewelry.

You had scattered upon it the jewels of a bride's head-dress.

فَتَهتِكُ أَستارَ الضَميرِ مِنَ الحَشا

فَتَهتِكُ أَستارَ الضَميرِ مِنَ الحَشا

وَتُبدي مِنَ الأَسرارِ كُلَّ حَبيسِ

وَتُبدي مِنَ الأَسرارِ كُلَّ حَبيسِ

Then she rends the veils of the inner self from the breast,

So it removes the veils of conscience through intoxication

She tears aside the veils of conscience from the inmost soul,

And reveals every secret held captive.

And reveals every secret captive.

And lays bare every secret that was kept confined.